KALABURAGI  SATURDAY  OCTOBER 31, 2020  `7.00  PAGES 12  CITY EDITION EC AXES KAMAL NATH FROM LIST OF STAR CAMPAIGNERS The poll body said on Friday it acted in view of the Congress leader’s “repeated violation” of the Model Code of Conduct ACTION OVER ‘ITEM’, ‘MAFIA’ COMMENTS The EC order referred to Kamal Nath’s recent misogynistic remarks against Scindia loyalist and BJP candidate Imarti Devi, calling her an “item”. It also mentioned his use of adjectives like “mafia” and “milawat khor” (adulterator) against Madhya Pradesh CM Shivraj Chouhan as a violation of the model code. The EC found Nath’s explanation unsatisfactory ■ Nov 3 NOW, SHOW SIMILAR RESOLVE IN BIHAR ■ Elsewhere, there is complete mockery of the model code as Covid protocols like masks and personal distancing are being frowned upon in huge Bihar poll rallies despite EC whip Will the poll body show equal resolve as in the Nath case by taking impartial action against all violators? The nation is watching DATE FOR BY-POLLS TO 28 MADHYA PRADESH ASSEMBLY SEATS CHENNAI ■ MADURAI ■ VIJAYAWADA ■ BENGALURU ■ KOCHI ■ HYDERABAD ■ VISAKHAPATNAM ■ COIMBATORE ■ KOZHIKODE ■ THIRUVANANTHAPURAM ■ BELAGAVI ■ BHUBANESWAR ■ SHIVAMOGGA ■ MANGALURU ■ TIRUPATI ■ TIRUCHY ■ TIRUNELVELI ■ SAMBALPUR ■ HUBBALLI ■ DHARMAPURI ■ KOTTAYAM ■ KANNUR ■ VILLUPURAM ■ KOLLAM ■ WARANGAL ■ TADEPALLIGUDEM ■ NAGAPATTINAM ■ THRISSUR ■ KALABURAGI US court orders Antrix to pay $1.2 bn to Devas Case relates to termination of deal; ruling will have no impact as ISRO’s commercial arm has no assets in US to attach: Official EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE @Bengaluru A US court has ordered Indian Space Research Organisation’s (ISRO’s) commercial arm Antrix Corporation to shell out a compensation of a whopping $1.2 billion (`8,952 crore) to Devas Multimedia, a Bengalurubased firm, over cancellation of a 2005 deal in February 2011. The deal pertained to Antrix launching and operating two satellites to make 70 MHz of S- band spectrum available to Devas for providing communication services across India. A senior Antrix official, on condition of anonymity, informed TNIE that with Antrix Corporation not having any assets in the USA, this ruling will not have any impact. “There is nothing which the (US) court can attach. However, a decision in the Supreme Court of India will be binding,” the official said. The Devas-Antrix case in this regard is still in the Apex Matter of jurisdiction Two years ago, Antrix sought the dismissal of the suit citing jurisdiction as the agreement and its termination occurred in India. But Devas said the US court had jurisdiction as Antrix conducted business across the US Antrix Corporation to pay $ 562.5 million (Rs 4,196 crore) and related rate of interest to Devas Multimedia Corporation, totaling $ 1.2 billion. The ruling came after two years of hearing the case. When contacted, Antrix CMD Rakesh Sashibhushan refused to offer any comment saying the matter was sub-judice. As per the Antrix Corporation-Devas Multimedia agreement in January 2005, the former agreed to build, launch and operate two satellites and make 70 MHz of S-band spectrum available to Devas, which was to offer hybrid satellite and terrestrial communication services throughout India. On February 25, 2011, Antrix issued a termination notice to Devas, stating that it was the Centre’s policy decision in its sovereign capacity and was in the event of force majeure, which was issued on February 23, 2011. A S H W I N I M S R I PA D @ Bengaluru CISF personnel deployed at RR Nagar in Bengaluru on Friday, as part of security arrangements ahead of the polling on November 3 | NAGARAJA GADEKAL KANNADA gottilla? Fret not. You may soon be able to come back with a snappy retort to that question. With online education becoming the buzz word, the State Government plans to set up an elearning portal for people wishing to learn the language. Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa is expected to inaugurate it on November 1, Kannada Rajyotsava day . The initiative, in association with the Kannada Development Authority is aimed at enabling , non-Kannadigas residing in the state to pick up the language as well as help next generation Kannagidas living abroad to stay in touch with their roots. This is probably the first time that the State Government is adopting technology to teach Kannada. Tech-savvy experts are working with litterateurs to digitalise Kannada words. Initially the portal will help those , interested to learn spoken Kan- Theatres in K’taka to remain shut till Jan next yr EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE @ Mysuru WITH movie producers unwilling to release films in theatres due to seating restrictions amid the pandemic, the Karnataka Film Exhibitors’ Federation has decided to not reopen theatres across the state till January next. For most new releases, overthe-top (OTT) platforms have become the preferred choice ever since the lockdown. On the other hand, theatres had been gearing up for re-runs of old movies. After a meeting of film exhibitors from the region, federation chairman R R Odugoudar told mediapersons that many producers have expressed their unwillingness to release big-ticket movies till January 2021 though the government had given its nod to reopen theatres with restrictions and by following standard operating procedures as per the Unlock 5.0 guidelines. “Producers are saying that they won’t release films till January 2021. In such circum- Process begins to restore Rahul raj E X P R E S S N E W S S E R V I C E @ New Delhi WITH chorus growing for former Congress president Rahul Gandhi to come back, the All India Congress Committee (AICC) will soon call a session to elect a new chief. All state units have been asked to send details of members who are eligible to vote. “This is to inform you that AICC intends to convene its meeting as soon as possible, and you will be intimated as soon as dates and venue are finalised,” said a note sent to state units by Congress’ Central Election Authority headed by Madhusudan Mistry . According to party sources, the session will be held by the end of the year or early next year. It would be a day-long affair, they added. “Rahul is most likely to take over the reins of the party and his coming back has been planned ahead of the Assembly election in five states, including Kerala, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal, next year. He is already part of all key decisions made by the party and it will be just an official comeback for him,” said a leader. In August, Congress’ interim president Sonia Gandhi had said a new president would be elected by February 2021. The move came after 23 senior party veterans including Ghulam Nabi Azad, Anand Sharma, Kapil Sibal and Shashi Tharoor wrote to her seeking organisational elections and a new leader. While the letter questioned Rahul Gandhi’s style of functioning, other leaders such as Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh, Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot, Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Bhagel, several state Congress chiefs and all Lok Sabha MPs beloning to the party had beseeched Rahul to take over the reins if Sonia wants to step down. Party revamp There is no clarity on when elections to the Congress Working Committee, the party’s powerful decisionmaking body, would be held Rahul is most likely to take over the reins of the party and his coming back has been planned ahead of the Assembly election in five states, including Kerala, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal, next year Congress leader 14 Haryana 0.701 8 Punjab 0.091 11 Rajasthan 0.38 9 Gujarat 0.054 Madhya Pradesh 7 0.345 Maharashtra 0.143 4 Karnataka 0.468 10 1 Kerala 1.388 The evidence that PAI 2020 generates and 16 Bihar 1.158 the insights that it Assam provides must 13 0.671 compel us to 15 Jharkhand 0.957 reflect on the economic 12 West Bengal 0.489 and social 17 Odisha 1.201 transition 5 Chhattisgarh 0.429 that is under way in India 3 Andhra Pradesh 0.531 18 Uttar Pradesh 1.461 6 Telangana 0.388 2 Tamil Nadu 0.912 Dr K Kasturirangan, PAC chairman K’taka behind other southern states on Learning Kannada will just be a click public affairs index Court which had earlier directed setting up of a tribunal. The US district judge, Western District of Washington, Seattle, on October 27, ordered CONTINUED ON: P5 away, anytime, and from anywhere KEEPING WATCH OV E R A L L PAI 2020 - L A R G E S TAT E S stances, exhibitors have also decided to not open theatres till January as it will only bleed us,” he said. The exhibitors further said that over the last six months, they were facing severe challenges and most of their requests and demands placed before the government and producers were not fulfilled. “The State Government has increased the licence renewal fee for cinema theatres by nearly 2,250%. As per the old structure `1,000 was collected for every 100 sqmt for 3 years. But now, this has been increased to `4,500 per 100 sqmt per year,” Odugoudar said. CONTINUED ON: P3 nada and gradually, reading and writing as well. In the long term, the government plans to teach even science subjects in Kannada through the portal. Kannada Development Authority Chairman T S Nagabharana said the move will be the first such initiative undertaken by the gover nment. “Many non-Kannadigas come to Karnataka to study and work. This portal will help them learn the language from anywhere. It will be userfriendly and free of cost,” he CONTINUED ON: P3 said. EXPRESS READ We will win both seats, says BSY on bypolls Bengaluru: CM B S Yediyurappa said that the BJP will win both Sira and RR Nagar in the bypolls. “We’ll win with a huge margin. The Congress and JDS will be fighting for second place,” he told TNIE | P4 14 dead, hundreds injured in Turkey earthquake Istanbul: A strong earthquake struck the region between the Turkish coast and the Greek island of Samos on Friday, leaving 14 dead and hundreds hurt | P9 EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE @ Bengaluru THE Karnataka government may need to do a lot more to boost its economy and sustain growth, which has been badly hit by the Covid-19 pandemic. Though signs of recovery are visible, the state is still behind other southern states, as per the Public Affairs Index Report released on Friday . The Public Affairs Centre’s annual report on governance considers three broad parameters — equity, growth and sustainability — in two categories: large states (with population of more than two crore) and small states (with population less than two crore). According to the report, Kerala topped the list in the category of large states with a PAI Index of 1.3888, followed by Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh. Kar nataka was ranked fourth with PAI score of 0.468. In the small states category , Goa topped the list with a PAI of 1.745, followed by Meghalaya, Himachal Pradesh and Sikkim. Former ISRO chairman, Dr K Kasturirangan, who is also the PAC chairman, emphasised on the importance of a scientific approach to sustainable development while releasing the report, and said, “Real obstacles stand in the path of a fuller understanding of persistent inter-generational deprivation and loss of opportunity challenges that appear to reproduce themselves, especially in parts of some states. To begin with, the influence of a ‘one size fits all’ approach on our development outlook has been pervasive; and the overwhelming majority of interventions, including centrally-sponsored schemes, designed and implemented mechanically, sometimes unwittingly perhaps, run counter to the doctrine of objective pluralism. The evidence that PAI 2020 generates and the insights that it provides must compel us to reflect on the economic and social transition that is under way in India; and what its implications for future development praxis might be.” Aparna Shrinivas, who carried out research for the report, said states were assessed based on the data they share on public domain and what has been submitted to the Central Government. The areas include health, governance, children, malnutrition, women and child welfare, infrastructure, access to resources, gender equality in political and administrative participation and Niti Ayog P5 report, she added.